Baltimore–U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore special agents and Maryland law enforcement partners have seized over 14,000 unapproved COVID-19 treatment capsules and several unapproved COVID-19 test kits as part of ongoing Operation Stolen Promise investigations.
Operation Stolen Promise is a national operation aimed at combatting COVID-19 fraud and other related criminal activity. In April, HSI launched Operation Stolen Promise to prevent and investigate illegal criminal activity surrounding the pandemic, strengthen global supply-chain security and protect the American public.
In one seizure, HSI Baltimore, U.S Customs and Border Protection and Maryland Natural Resources Police intercepted and seized a shipment that originated in China and contained unapproved COVID-19 test kits. In another case, HSI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted a package originating in Hong Kong and discovered nearly 500 unapproved COVID-19 treatment capsules.
As of June 1, HSI special agents nationally have opened over 480 investigations nationwide; seized over $4.9 million dollars in illicit proceeds; made 20 arrests; executed 38 search warrants; analyzed over 36,000 COVID-19 domain names; and worked alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection to seize 668 shipments of mislabeled, fraudulent, unauthorized or prohibited COVID-19 test kits, treatment kits, homeopathic remedies, purported anti-viral products and personal protective equipment (PPE).
